A Roman marble portrait head of Gaius Caesar, Augustan, circa A.D. 1.  Estimate £40,000 - 60,000 (€55,000 - 82,000). Photo: Bonhams.

Probably Parian marble, the youth depicted turning slightly to his left, the close-cropped hair carved in wavy locks around the forehead, with deep-set large eyes beneath slightly frowning brows, 37cm high

Provenance: UK private collection, London.
Christie's London, 25 April 2007, lot 260.
Acquired on the London art market in the 1970s by the previous owner's late father.

Notes: Gaius Caesar (20 B.C.-A.D. 4) and his brother Lucius Caesar (17 B.C.-A.D. 2) were the sons of the Emperor Augustus' only child Julia and his close confidant Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. The Emperor adopted them in 17 B.C. intending them to be his successors, however they both predeceased Augustus.

Gaius and his younger brother Lucius 'played extremely important roles in Augustus' political and dynastic plans' (J. Pollini, The Portraiture of Gaius and Lucius Caesar, New York, 1987, p. 2). Official images of Augustus's grandsons were produced from their childhood, 'deliberately calculated to depict the princes as miniature versions of their illustrious grandfather.' (D. Kleiner, Roman Sculpture, New Haven and London, 1992, p. 72). 

Portraits of Gaius have been divided into five types and this head has been identified as belonging to Type IV. It is thought that this type was created in A.D. 1 in honour of Gaius's assumption of consulship (Pollini, op. cit., pp. 56-9).

A closely related example of Type IV is the portrait statue of Gaius from Corinth (Pollini, op. cit., pl.16:1-4). This is part of a marble portrait group of Gaius and Lucius with their grandfather the Emperor which was set up in the Julian Basilica in Corinth.

BONHAM'S. ANTIQUITIES, 16 Apr 2015 10:30 BST - LONDON, NEW BOND STREET